I do believe I got a good deal.

[allanw]

Check out my incredible luck. Picked up all of this off my local Craigslist for $500.





Modern $10k scope + 4 500MHz probes. 350MHz, 2.5GS/s.
Fluke 87-V with Pomona lead set.

[.o:0|O|0:o.]

Did you have to fight a crowd of people off for it first? (Lucky bugger!) 

.o:0|O|0:o.

[inse]

It's not a good deal, it's a perfekt deal!

Seems like the seller had no idea of what he was selling.

...but it was his own, wasn't it?

[mikeselectricstuff]

I'd be rather wary about letting anyone know the serial number....

[allanw]

The guy knew exactly what he was selling, and knew his stuff. Says he was switching over to LabView-based scopes so he was getting rid of this one. Sounds crazy to me but whatever

I'm not sure why he was willing to let it go for so cheap. I was lucky to have replied to the post first, because he still sold it to me despite way higher offers from other people.

[Time]

stolen

[allanw]

Serial number is C020122. Bring it on

Scope reports powered on 75 times, last self-calibrated June 2009, and has been turned on for only two hours since then. A little strange I guess.

[Time]

God, you are so lucky! I hate you.

[just]

This scope was listed here also, for a few hours maybe, but someone deleted the post. And it is still on craigslist.

[Neilm]

That is a faster scope than I have at work!

Neil

[armandas]

The guy knew exactly what he was selling, and knew his stuff. Says he was switching over to LabView-based scopes so he was getting rid of this one. Sounds crazy to me but whatever

Utter buls*it. But I can't blame you, I don't think I would care either Do a review for us, if you have time!

[EEVblog]

Holy crap!
There is one on ebay for $10,700
I recon you could get $6000 for it pretty easily.
This is where you start to think - now if I sold this on ebay for $6K, I could buy a really shit hot brand new scope for $3K and pocket the difference...

In fact my wife wouldn't let me keep such and expensive instrument if she knew how much I could get for it on ebay!

Personally, I'd sell it. After all, how often are you going to need that sort of performance? And if you do you'd likely be better off (financially) simply renting a scope of that performance when you need it.

Dave.

[allanw]

I made the initial post a week ago but deleted it shortly afterwards to enhance my chances of getting the scope

It's very tempting for me to sell it but I figure it's a nice investment for the next 5-10 years. Not sure what I'd do with the money anyway. Hell, one of my goals was to make enough cash to buy a scope like this anyway

edit: haha, I love the poll. Hilarious Dave.

[TopherTheME]

holy freeken crap!

[JohnS_AZ]

In fact my wife wouldn't let me keep such and expensive instrument if she knew how much I could get for it on ebay!

*LOL*  A few years ago I was in a Goodwill thrift store when they rolled out some new 'stuff'. On the top of the cart was a Leitz LaborLux binocular microscope. It had the eye pieces, bottom light, top (polarized) light, all 5 objectives (10X through 1000X), and a camera mount. Snagged it for $30 bucks. When my wife looked it up on online she nagged me for weeks to sell the thing. It brought in $1,600 on eBay, of which I used $300 to buy another microscope. $300 when into my "hobby" fund, and the rest went into the household accounts.

As for that O-Scope, I'd sell it too ... after playing with it for a week or so. :-)

[mikeselectricstuff]

Keep it - once you''ve used a nice scope you hate using cheap ones. I have an Agilent MSO6034A, and using any other scope makes my skin crawl...
Kit like this hold its value well, so it's like money in the bank, except that you can play with it. Or do useful work.
 

[MrPlacid]

Wow, and I thought I got a good deal on ebay with this S2405 for $69 including shipping.

Some guys got all the luck

[EEVblog]

It's very tempting for me to sell it but I figure it's a nice investment for the next 5-10 years. Not sure what I'd do with the money anyway. Hell, one of my goals was to make enough cash to buy a scope like this anyway

I ask again "how often are you going to need that sort of performance?" :->

I could afford a scope like that if I really wanted to (and I'd love to), but there is no way in hell I'd ever bring myself to spend my own money to get one! Because deep down I know I simply will never need the performance.

When I get something like this (and it's happened often actually), I always check out what I can get for it on ebay and then ask myself "If I had that amount of cash, would I hand it over to buy this exact thing?" If the answer is no, as it almost always is, then I sell it.

You have maybe $6000-$7000 easy in your pocket right now, would you seriously buy this same scope with that money?
I recon you could buy another scope almost as good for half the money you'd get for this one.

Kinda reminds me of the contestants on Deal or No Deal who have "won" $20000 and then risk it with 50/50 odds to gain maybe an extra $10000. If you walked up to them on the street and offered then the same gamble, they'd laugh in your face. But at the time their minds think that $20000 is "play" money when they are on the show. Crazy stuff!

I once had a top of the range Audio Precision Analyser in my home lab http://ap.com/products/2700
Awesome bit of kit, I loved it. But the value was simply too great to keep it, it was worth more than a new car.

Dave.

[allanw]

Well in my previous topic I was picking up voltage spikes of 300MHz from my switched mode constant current supply. It was only because I had a 400MHz analog scope that I was able to even see them. It'd be nice to have a digital version of it.

I suppose I could sell it and get a $3000 300MHz scope or something, but there probably aren't any around.

And the huge 10" screen and all the fancy waveform viewing features are so nice...

Anyway as a college student I don't really need much in terms of spending money. The most expensive things I buy are to support the electronics hobby.

[Psi]

Hm.. keep/sell, It's such a hard decision and i'm not even the one who got it

If i didnt already have a good setup I'd probably sell the scope and use all the money to buy a really good collection of cheaper test gear and tools.
I mean $6k+ would get you a HUGE collection of gear that IMHO would be more useful than one AWESOME scope.
You could make a fully kitted out electronics desk + rigol scope, siggen, two psus, two fluke dmm, hotairrework, soldering, variac, LCR, usb logic analyser etc.. plus a good collection of good quality tools and a few parts kits for caps/res/diodes etc..

However, it is an awesome scope so if you already have a good electronic desk/setup or you need, or think you will need that kind or performance, then by all means keep it. It will make you happy every time you look at it

[EEVblog]

Well in my previous topic I was picking up voltage spikes of 300MHz from my switched mode constant current supply. It was only because I had a 400MHz analog scope that I was able to even see them. It'd be nice to have a digital version of it.

I suppose I could sell it and get a $3000 300MHz scope or something, but there probably aren't any around.

Both Rigol and Lecroy have new 300MHz scopes around the $2000 mark.
Sure, much smaller memory, slower update and screen etc, but is that worth say $5K extra out of your own pocket?

Heck, here is 4 channel 500MHz Agilent Infinium for $2650:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Agilent-hp-54825N-500MHz-Infinium-Oscilloscope-54825A-/200522099008?pt=BI_Oscilloscopes&hash=item2eb00c6940
and another:
http://cgi.ebay.com/HP-Agilent-54825A-Infinium-Oscilloscope-500MHz-4-Ch-/190466618847?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c58b1f5df

Not that I'm trying to convince you you'd be crazy not to sell it or anything ;-)

Dave.

[.o:0|O|0:o.]

I recon you could get $6000 for it pretty easily.

With QE and the depreciating dollar, why sell today when tomorrow you can sell it for more (...or for food)  

In other words, I think it would be a good investment to keep it for a while.

.o:0|O|0:o.

[Hypernova]

IMO it's like a gold brick, if you don't sell it it will do you as much good as a lead brick.

But it's soooooo nice to look at 

[.o:0|O|0:o.]

Actually, on second thoughts, sell immediately as Dave suggested and then buy a cheaper scope immediately and also a gold brick with the difference.

.o:0|O|0:o.

[allanw]

Those ebay scopes you listed do look nice... this is a tough decision.

Are you certain this scope would even go for above $5k? It's never been sold on ebay before. And with taxes and ebay/paypal fees it'd lose more than 30% I think...

[EEVblog]

Those ebay scopes you listed do look nice... this is a tough decision.

Are you certain this scope would even go for above $5k? It's never been sold on ebay before. And with taxes and ebay/paypal fees it'd lose more than 30% I think...

I've sold an Agilent 54621A 60MHz mixed signal scope for $2500 under 2 years ago. Had to list 3 or 4 times, but eventually someone bought it at the price I was asking. I thought that price was a tad overpriced for a 10 year old long discontinued 60MHz mono CRT scope. Albeit it was pretty nice.
A matching buyer will almost always come along eventually, you just have to hold out.

I'd be willing to bet it would go for well over $5K, you just have to be patient and possibly list a few times. Remember, you have a near current model scope here powered up very few times, there is a big niche market for this stuff.
They key is to prove it's the real deal. Take *lots* if high res photos (hosted on your own server, no the shit ebay hosting). Show it fully working on all 4 channels, say it's "almost as new" show the number of times it's been powered up, offer inspection, link to the Tek site and ho much it costs new etc etc.

Personally I would not list it for under $6K. Probably $7K with "Make an Offer" option.

What taxes? Surely you woulsn't tell the tax department about this?, this is a private sale of a second hand item.

Dave.

[TopherTheME]

Did the thing come with a cal certificate? If it did, add at least $500 to the price tag.

Damn, and I thought my DSO3102A for $450 was a good deal.

[allanw]

Hmm, insertion fees are extremely low.

I can put it up initially at a high price and see what happens, since I'm still reluctant about letting it go.

One issue is that I have no feedback on ebay as a seller, but I have 45 feedback as a buyer (which really doesn't mean anything since sellers now cannot rate you). However I will make my listing very complete and put plenty of nice pictures in.

[Psi]

I was going to post the best/most interesting deal i made in here but didn't want to hyjack allanw's thread

So I just made a new thread were we can all post the best deals we've made.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=1711.0

[EEVblog]

I can put it up initially at a high price and see what happens, since I'm still reluctant about letting it go.

One issue is that I have no feedback on ebay as a seller, but I have 45 feedback as a buyer (which really doesn't mean anything since sellers now cannot rate you). However I will make my listing very complete and put plenty of nice pictures in.

Ah, yes, zero feedback on such an item rings all the alarm bells. You have a much harder sell, especially to anyone that can't come and inspect.
I'd start selling tons of little stuff first to get your feedback up into double digits., Might take a month, but that could adds thousands to the value.
Or if you know a friend with good feedback, give them a cut to sell it on their account.

Dave.

[Mechatrommer]

stolen

i second

God, you are so lucky! I hate you.

i second! i second.

keep it. this is a gem.

[saturation]

Some food for thought:

This is a beautiful scope, worth far more and almost new.

If the item is stolen, just if, the buyer faces civil charges from the owner and separate criminal charges.

Unlike Craiglists which can be anonymous, eBay leaves an audit trail to control sale of stolen items, they are very good at it now.  

Given the scope is worth over $10K, if you get over $5K for it by US law it is no longer considered small claims, were few law enforcers care [ like trying to recover a lost laptop or cell phone.]  If its sold on eBay, and the original owner wants it back, the secondary seller is now liable to both the original owner and the person he sold it too.

The degree of the crime depends on what the original owner will value it as.  Sale of stolen goods across state lines often elevates a misdemeanor into a felony.

Any burden of proof that the buyer was not an accomplice to a crime rests with the buyer, and whether the law officers will bother to press charges for possession:

http://criminal-law.freeadvice.com/white_collar_crimes/crime_property.htm

http://definitions.uslegal.com/n/national-stolen-property-act-nspa/

Most electronics are not investments, they are expenses.

Investments appreciate over time, make you money.

Expenses depreciate, lose money over time.

If you sell a piece of high end gear that is no longer new, what you are getting is its residual value, its often less than the item bought new, for example if you bought a second hand HP 3458a, new about $10k sold by Agilent, it eBays for about $5k.


Good luck!

[sonicj]

Hmm, insertion fees are extremely low.

insertion fees are low. the reserve fee is where they get ya!

this item would be worth having a professional broker handle the auction. they will have the feedback credibility to land confident buyers and the expertise not get burned. 
-sj

[tinhead]

if this would be a car (like Ferrari) you would even not think about to sell it and to buy a cheaper BMW or Toyota,
on the other side, if you have no driver license why to keep Ferrari?

I would keep it, but it is up to you.

[FreeThinker]

If you are going to sell it put it away and DON'T TOUCH IT.If you don't you'll fall in love with it and not be able to part with it or regret it every time you turn on your new scope.I would sell, but then have no use for a high end scope.

[cybergibbons]

I'd risk selling it - if you think the seller is genuine, and know where he lives, do it, there isn't much risk to you.

I've used one of this range of scopes at work, and it is excellent when you need 4 channels of huge memory depth with advanced triggers. There were a few times when it was invaluable, but also a lot of times I was just viewing periodic waveforms on two channels, with a simple edge trigger.

I can't think of a time in hobby work when I really would need it. In fact, I quite like the challenge of working with equipment that's cheaper!

[mikeselectricstuff]

Investments appreciate over time, make you money.

Expenses depreciate, lose money over time.

However high-end test gear depreciates probably less than any other sort of electronics, as the specs don't change very quickly.

And sometimes there is just the pleasure in having nice things and using good tools, as well as that in scoring a bargain. 

[EEVblog]

And sometimes there is just the pleasure in having nice things and using good tools, as well as that in scoring a bargain. 
[/quote]

I agree.
However, I think you'd get just as much pleasure out of one of those 500MHz Agilent Infinifum's, and at least $3-4K extra in your pocket to boot. I think it's a no-brainer.

Dave.

[gib0r]

Edit: Posted under wrong thread. Moved to https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=1711.15
Sorry for the hijack.

[saturation]

WOW!  now that's a deal.

Businesses and labs depreciate gear as a tax write off, so selling it is one way to avoid dumping it, and incurring the hazmat fees now for electronics.  Anyone who carts it off is doing them a service, I get tons of gear available from the biomed and bioelectronics fields but I can't use most of it, unless you like doing biology as a hobby.

Back in July my place of work surplussed a bunch of stuff from our old building, which included a then larger metrology lab...

Day of sale, $40 bought me the following:

Tektronix 2445A
BK precision 1760 PSU
HP 8020 rackmount psu
2x Keithly 2750 rackmount dataloggers/Multimeters with complete software package and Kelven probes.
Fluke 8804A Multimeter
Fluke 8020B Multimeter
HP 3466A Multimeter
Keithly 480 Picoameter
Hart Scientific 1502 Thermometer with probe
Huntron HSR410 switcher
Mitutoyo sheet metal micrometer.
other odd misc items such as hygrometer probes,calibration tools, and some clean room items.


Even with the obscene price, the best part of all of it was being able to overhaul my fathers workbench with extras and what some of the above replaced on mine.  My father has been using the same test equipment since I was a child, and boy was he excited!

[orbiter]

If it were me I think I'd definately keep it. Whether or not you use that sort of perfomance.. at least you know it's there. It's a bit like fast bike, you don't ride it flat out all the time, but all that power is there when it's required

Great find and great buy.. Enjoy.

[allanw]

So, to get I2C or SPI decoding, you have to buy a $1350 dongle. Looks like there's a way to make your own module, as it's just an I2C EEPROM:

http://forum.tsebi.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=113

I'll give it a shot and report back.

I might open it up and take some pictures. Supposedly it's all custom silicon in there.

[cksa]

Don't turn it on. Take it apart!!!

[Psi]

Don't turn it on. Take it apart!!!

yeah, it's probably full of bags of heroin

[VITO]

Does any one had experience with this scope?
I am looking for new scope for work and got offered 1GHz version with logic analyzer for $13k instead of $22k
for the same money i can get Agilent 7000 350Mhz version

[allanw]

That sounds like a pretty good deal.

I've used it for a few weeks and I really like it. You can configure the memory depth from 1k to 10M in 10x steps. At lower memory depths the scope is more responsive and the digital phosphor updates really fast but obviously captures less info.

The pan and zoom features are pretty useful but the knob is a little hard to use.

[NiHaoMike]

How many FPS does it render at? The GPU appears to be quite old but I'm not sure exactly how much processing is needed to render a waveform. As for difficulty in using the pan and zoom, a multitouch interface would solve that. Along with the more traditional knobs for those not used to touch screens.

[CryptLordGR]

The sure about everyone is that they would be flying from happiness with such a deal. Keep it or sell it, you win.

[Joy at MCS]

I can definitely say it was a great deal.
 If you were to buy a new one it would be around $10,200.00 in the states.

Congrats  on your find! 

[Time]

I'd do what Dave said.  Sell it and get one of those 500 MHz Infiniums and use the extra to get some other nice pieces of equipment or just pocket the difference.

[Slobodan]

I was just browsing at ebay and came across this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/TektronixTDS744A-Digitizing-4CH-Oscilloscope-/160508835933?pt=BI_Oscilloscopes&hash=item255f12785d#ht_785wt_1139
Is this a good deal?

I'm just interested in your opinion. And maybe someone could make some money from this if it is a good deal, because I can not.

And no, I am not the seller of this oscilloscope, although it may seem like it.

[allanw]

Looks like a good scope but there's still an hour left on the auction. So plenty of time for the price to go way up.

[Slobodan]

It says there is 1 day and 5 hours left. I have no experience with eBay but there was only one bid, does anyone know how much this oscilloscope is really worth?

[Hypernova]

It says there is 1 day and 5 hours left. I have no experience with eBay but there was only one bid, does anyone know how much this oscilloscope is really worth?

I would say pretty good spec for the money (completely blow the rigol away), only down side is that you can't get data off it without a floppy or GPIB cable.

[Slobodan]

only down side is that you can't get data off it without a floppy or GPIB cable.

That is not the only downside for me, my country is not PayPal certified and even if it is he only sends it to the US.

[joelby]

I've used one of these. The interface is glacial at times, but the noise performance when looking at low signal levels is loads better than the Rigol.

[allanw]

I bet it'll go for over $1k.

[CryptLordGR]

so what are you going to do with the scope?

[EEVblog]

I was just browsing at ebay and came across this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/TektronixTDS744A-Digitizing-4CH-Oscilloscope-/160508835933?pt=BI_Oscilloscopes&hash=item255f12785d#ht_785wt_1139

I don't like sellers who know nothing about the great and can't even hook up the probe test signal.
But these listing often go a fair bit cheaper than ones that are fully tested.

If you are looking to make money on scopes like this then look for ones that are pickup only, or have incorrect spelling in the titles, that really limits the number of bidders.

Dave.

[Slobodan]

I bet it'll go for over $1k.

Yes, you where right, it sold for 1025$. It looked too good to be true.

I don't like sellers who know nothing about the great and can't even hook up the probe test signal.
But these listing often go a fair bit cheaper than ones that are fully tested.

If you are looking to make money on scopes like this then look for ones that are pickup only, or have incorrect spelling in the titles, that really limits the number of bidders.

Dave.

Thanks for the advice Dave.

[VITO]

This week i had opportunity to play with Tektronix 4000 series.
I was left disappointed may be because i saw Aglinet 7000 scope before it or just the sales man couldn't sale it for me.
it has great performance ,low noise,big screen there no comparison with my rigol, but for $13k you get basic model without special triggers
You have to pay $1.5k for every type of trigger and communication decoding.
the software felt fery simple not far from rigol without any special tests like Eye test .
when i moved from my old analog scope to rigol ds1052 i felt like i got new swiss knife you could test and debug everything with it, there no such feeling when moving from $400 scope to $13k Tek
I am embedded engineer and maybe i don't see the great performance that analog engineer would see in this scope.
My suggestion is to sell this scope and buy scope from less "NAME" company but that gives more advanced features like trigerring on and decoding serial busses.